Petty sessions : theft of two coats

Hertfordshire Mercury, 17th March 1906

Transcript

Annie Wakler, a married woman, was charged with stealing two overcoats, one the property of Henry Hinstridge, and the other belonging to Wiliam Darton, at Hitchin, on March 10th. The prosecutors are members of the Blue Cross Temperance Brigade. They went into the Brigade’s Gymnasium on Saturday evening, leaving their overcoats in the porch.

The coats were missed shortly after and the police were informed. On the same evening the defendant offered one of the coats for sale for a shilling, saying she wanted to get some food for her children on Sunday. She could not sell it however. Next day on being spoken to by the police she handed over the two coats, saying she bought them from a stranger on Saturday evening for sixpence. The defendant made a similar statement now, strongly denying the charge of theft.

She was sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment, the Chairman reminding her that she had been punished for a like offence before.

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